Gene Expression Evaluation of Multigenic Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) against Cotton Leaf Curl Virus

Abstract

One of the most crucial threats limiting the sustainable production of cotton is cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD). There is dire need to produce a resistant variety that can combat CLCuD. For this purpose, virus resistant transgenic cotton plants (MNH-786) with C4 gene construct at T3 generation were selected and sown. Young fresh leaves of multigenic variety of MNH-786 were collected to confirm the transformed construct. Infected whiteflies were used for spreading on transgenic cotton MNH-786 variety with C4 construct to check percentage of infection. Whiteflies were collected from infected cotton plants showing CLCuD and reared in lab to increase the population of whiteflies. After 15 days of feeding, infected leaves of transgenic plants were collected and total DNA of infected leaves of transgenic cotton plant with virus load was extracted. At maturity, data of morphological characteristic was taken from the transgenic cotton plants of MNH-786 and control plants. Resistant transgenic cotton plants showed < 0.5% disease index and recorded more plant height in field condition. Total number of bolls per plant was 20% more in tolerant plants and 40% more in resistant plants as compared to susceptible plants. Molecular analysis of transgenic plants showed clear evidence that expression of construct 4 virus resistant gene against begomoviruses in resistant and tolerant group of transgenic plants was more as compared to susceptible group and control. © 2021 Friends Science Publishers